Microsoft is reportedly planning to release a line of cheaper Surface tablets that will allow it to compete more effectively with Apple'siPads.

It claims that Microsoft is "seeking a hit in a market for cheaper devices that Apple dominates with the iPad" and cites people familiar with the matter. What's more, these new tablets will feature USB-C connectivity instead of Micro-USB, something the Surface 3 featured instead of Microsoft's proprietary charging port. They'll be priced around $400, according to sources.

What's interesting here is the report claims these tablets will ship with Intel processors, and not an ARM chip as so many assumed Microsoft would opt for in a new non-pro Surface device.

Significantly lighter than the latest Pro generation, the new unnamed budget-friendly Surface is also expected to lose quite a bit of battery life while still packing Intel processing power and graphics muscle.

There will be versions with 64 and 128 GB of storage, and models that connect to LTE cellular networks. Anyway, it's seems likely that the Redmond giant could hold a special event to introduce these new Surface tablets later this year, maybe with some updates for other Surface products along the way. This makes them closer to "real PCs" than an iPad's technical specs, and can run "normal" Windows apps - Microsoft sells a keyboard cover and stylus accessory separately.

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